The Future of Genetically Modified Food essays

The Future of Genetically Modified Food essays Genetically modified food has been a topic of much debate ever since it was first introduced to the market in the early 1990s. Safety issues and economic as well as ecological concerns have been raised by many. While it is evident that there was a food supply issue the question is whether genetically modified food, or GMF, can solve world hunger problems, or even if that would be the best way to address the issue. Nina Fedoroff argues in her New York Times article "Engineering Food for All" that as food prices continue rising so does the number of people who may not be able to afford higher priced food. Unnecessary regulation by the EPA, Department of Agriculture, and Food and Drug Administration has slow down improving technology to allow for faster production of GMF. Evidence and extensive research over the past 25 years has shown no danger in producing modified crops. Fedoroff wants to see regulation lifted and a simple set of requirements focused on any hazards posed by gene Michael Pollan's view of gene modification is different. He argues that GM may be much more dangerous than people think and refers to it as biological pollution. Diversity of corn could be threatened by genetic engineering by allowing the modified organisms to end up in places they weren't meant to be and where no one would suspect they would go. Contamination by cross-pollination and trans-genes could replace genes that Extinction of these genes is very possible. Pollan is a professor of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. Pollan has written a book called The Omnivore's Dilemma which describes four ways human society obtains food and follows each process to its source. He is a credible source to be arguing against gene modification. Fedoroff's appeal to Pathos can be seen in the first paragraph of the article when she mentions the "ranks of the hungry" are growing. She seems concerne...

Essential Facts About the South Carolina Colony

Essential Facts About the South Carolina Colony The South Carolina Colony was founded by the British in 1663 and was one of the 13 original colonies. It was founded by eight nobles with a Royal Charter from King Charles II and was part of the group of Southern Colonies, along with the North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland. South Carolina became one of the wealthiest early colonies largely due to exports of cotton, rice, tobacco, and indigo dye. Much of the colonys economy was dependent upon slave labor that supported large land operations similar to plantations.  Ã‚   Early Settlement The British were not the first to attempt to colonize land in South Carolina. In the middle of the 16th century, first the French and then the Spanish tried to establish settlements on the coastal land. The French settlement of Charlsefort, now Parris Island, was established by French soldiers in 1562, but the effort lasted less than a year. In 1566, the Spanish established the settlement of Santa Elena in a nearby location. This lasted about 10 years before it was abandoned, following attacks by local Native Americans. While the town was later rebuilt, the Spanish devoted more resources to settlements in Florida, leaving the South Carolina coast ripe for the picking by British settlers. The English established Albemarle Point in 1670 and moved the colony to Charles Town (now Charleston) in 1680. Slavery and the South Carolina Economy Many of the early settlers of South Carolina came from the island of Barbados, in the Caribbean, bringing with them the plantation system common in the West Indies colonies. Under this system, large areas of land were privately owned, and most of the farm labor was provided by slaves. South Carolina landowners initially acquired slaves through trade with the West Indies, but once Charles Town was established as a major port, slaves were imported directly from Africa. The great demand for slave labor under the plantation system created a significant slave population in South Carolina. By the 1700s, the population of slaves nearly doubled the white population, according to many estimates.   South Carolinas slave trade was not limited to African slaves. It was also one of the few colonies to engage in the trade of American Indian slaves. In this case, slaves were not imported into South Carolina but rather exported to the British West Indies and other British colonies. This trade began in about 1680 and continued for nearly four decades until the Yamasee War led to peace negotiations that helped end the ​trade activity.   North and South Carolina The South Carolina and North Carolina colonies originally were part of one colony called the Carolina Colony. The colony was set up as a proprietary settlement and governed by a group known as Carolinas Lords Proprietors. But unrest with the native population and fear of slave rebellion led white settlers to seek protection from the English crown. As a result, the colony became a royal colony in 1729 and was divided into the colonies of South Carolina and North Carolina.